Boy starts couch fire, flees century ago

This week in history...

l A young Canfield boy started a fire not knowing how it would affect the community around him.

Saturday afternoon, Frank Twyford, the 10-year-old son of Arthur Twyford of Canfield confessed to Deputy State Fire Marshal S.E. Hartman of this city, that he set fire to a barn belonging to Frank Ewing of Canfield a week ago Saturday. The barn, which was a large one, was destroyed and the loss amounted to about $1,000.

Young Twyford in his confession stated that he was passing the barn and the desire to start a fire came on him. Entering an unoccupied house that stands near he started a fire on a sofa found there. Then going to a barn he built a fire of leaves near it. When the fire got beyond his control, he fled.

Mr. Ewing and some hired men were pulling corn not a great distance away and saw the smoke. They carried a burning couch out of the house, but were unable to save the barn.

The accompanying citation read: “For heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force, Spec. Palm distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on June 20, 1966, during an attack through Trung Loung, Republic of Viet Nam, against a well-trenched North Vietnamese rifle company.

“During the course of the battle, Spec. 4 Palm’s platoon was pinned down by two machine gun positions about 80 meters to the front. Palm crawled toward the enemy positions and when within hand grenade range, an enemy soldier jumped from behind a tree with an automatic weapon and began firing at him. Evading the Viet Cong’s erratic fire, he continued on with his mission.”

Spec. Palm successfully destroyed the two enemy machine guns.

The commendation also read, “Spec. 4 Palm’s devotion to duty and personal courage were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.”

25 years ago in 1991:

l Trick-or-treat brought out children of all ages and costumes of all types in many Trumbull County communities. Costumed rabbits and Robin Hoods were among the trick-or-treaters on Clearwater Street NW in Warren. Michael Jordan, 5, dressed as a clown and carrying a treat bag in an automobile, as well as a Ninja Turtle frightened by a real horse ridden by Larry Carver of the Warren Mounted Deputy Posse were among those featured in the Tribune’s local section article, trick-or-treat treks.

l A black bear spotted in the North River Road and Mosquito Creek areas was seen running across the parking lot of the Packard Electric plant.

Officer Richard Martin said the bear had been seen a couple of times and probably wandered over from Pennsylvania. Residents were cautioned not to panic, to leave the animal alone and contact the game warden or local police.

“The bear also should not be cornered,” Martin said.

The bear was the third in the area in recent months, one having been shot and killed by the game warden and Liberty police after it had been spotted in the Youngstown area in July.

10 years ago in 2006:

l A local couple in North Bloomfield planning to adopt an Ethiopian orphan were helping foster children to learn English. Craig and Stacey Klotzbach raised about $1,900 for their portable classroom project, including a standing cabinet to hold teaching supplies that were converted to a classroom with chalkboard and table.

Klotzbach, a biology teacher at LaBrae High School, got the idea for the classroom when he visited the Americans for African Adoptions House in Addis Ababa.

“They were writing on a chalkboard that was made out of a warped piece of wood painted black. They didn’t have the room to build a classroom,” Klotzbach said.

l Area residents sponsored Halloween fun for a cause, some to raise spirits and others to raise funds.

The Girard City Survivors Relay For Life team Monster Bash Halloween Party at the American Legion Hall for the American Cancer Society had its annual Halloween Parade in the St. Rose school gymnasium. Other events of interest this week were a lecture on Bigfoot presented at the Trumbull County Public Library, a costume contest and Halloween party at the McKinley Memorial Library and a Fall Fun Festival at John F. Kennedy High School.